Validating pore size estimates in a complex microfibre environment on a human MRI system

Huang, Chu-Chung, Hsu, Chih-Chun Heather, Zhou, Feng-Lei, Kusmia, Slawomir, Drakesmith, Mark ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8574-9560, Parker, Geoff J. M., Lin, Ching-Po and Jones, Derek K. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4409-8049 2021. Validating pore size estimates in a complex microfibre environment on a human MRI system. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 86 (3) , pp. 1514-1530. 10.1002/mrm.28810

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Abstract

Purpose Recent advances in diffusion-weighted MRI provide “restricted diffusion signal fraction” and restricting pore size estimates. Materials based on co-electrospun oriented hollow cylinders have been introduced to provide validation for such methods. This study extends this work, exploring accuracy and repeatability using an extended acquisition on a 300 mT/m gradient human MRI scanner, in substrates closely mimicking tissue, that is, non-circular cross-sections, intra-voxel fiber crossing, intra-voxel distributions of pore-sizes, and smaller pore-sizes overall. Methods In a single-blind experiment, diffusion-weighted data were collected from a biomimetic phantom on a 3T Connectom system using multiple gradient directions/diffusion times. Repeated scans established short-term and long-term repeatability. The total scan time (54 min) matched similar protocols used in human studies. The number of distinct fiber populations was estimated using spherical deconvolution, and median pore size estimated through the combination of CHARMED and AxCaliber3D framework. Diffusion-based estimates were compared with measurements derived from scanning electron microscopy. Results The phantom contained substrates with different orientations, fiber configurations, and pore size distributions. Irrespective of one or two populations within the voxel, the pore-size estimates (~5 μm) and orientation-estimates showed excellent agreement with the median values of pore-size derived from scanning electron microscope and phantom configuration. Measurement repeatability depended on substrate complexity, with lower values seen in samples containing crossing-fibers. Sample-level repeatability was found to be good. Conclusion While no phantom mimics tissue completely, this study takes a step closer to validating diffusion microstructure measurements for use in vivo by demonstrating the ability to quantify microgeometry in relatively complex configurations.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Psychology Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC)
Publisher:	Wiley
ISSN:	0740-3194
Funders:	Wellcome Trust, EPSRC, MRC
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	6 April 2021
Date of Acceptance:	26 March 2021
Last Modified:	03 May 2023 00:32
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/140302

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